INNOVATION OF NEW MODELS IS NECESSARY IN CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE


 

Zebras grazing on grass in a National Park. PHOTO: David P. Kioko

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) as the key sector stakeholders in conservation, were challenged to rethink conservation approaches.

Preservation of Kenya’s flora and fauna resources needs innovation of new models. This was a challenge by the President Uhuru Kenyatta on December 16, 2021 during celebrations to mark the 75th Anniversary of Nairobi National Park.

The sector stakeholders must ensure factors including climate change and increase in human population which consequently leads to change of socioeconomic desires are balanced with the new approaches as matters of conservation are concerned.

 “We need to really think imaginatively how we will do it and how we will ensure that future generations are able to live side by side with nature and with our wildlife as we have done,” said the Head of State.

The President also emphasized the need for a robust sustainability plan covering the 31,000-acre conservation surface thus called upon the wildlife ministry to make the craft.

The President noted that wildlife challenges and especially poaching, can be addressed by the use of new innovations and innovative approaches as well as use of technology. These approaches will also address emerging challenges in the conservation sectors thus greatly improve efficiency, reduce cost and provide avenue for learning and research activities by the local learning institutions while enhancing wildlife conservation.

As part of new approaches to conservation to be considered, the President made a challenge and a proposal concerning the young and future conservationists: conservation heroes being recognized as per the mechanisms that will be developed by the sector stakeholders. 

Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Najib Balala, thanked the Head of State and attributes recent successes especially fights against poaching and receiving 2,000 additional acres to Nairobi National Park enabled expansion in space for wildlife. His speech was clear on continued and growing support from the President and the Government respectively, in conservation programs and sector as a whole. 

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